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BY TOM LOUNGES
Times Correspondent | Friday, October 24, 2003 | (No comments posted.)
Following the lead of many other groups of the past who are regrouping for one last hurrah, local singer/songwriter Chad Clifford decided on a whim last year to call three former high school compadres with the notion of reforming their band.
The response to that first Digital Hair reunion concert was so strong that they've decided to do it again.
Clifford, best known these days for fronting the very popular Crawpuppies, will return to his Digital Hair "roots" tonight at Buddy & Pal's in Valparaiso. Joining him once again will be his ex-classmates Paul Gold, Mike Moore and Alex Valentine, the components of the original Digital Hair line-up that ruled the Porter County sock-hop scene from 1986 to 1989.
Clifford, the only member who has stuck to playing music over the years, felt nostalgic for the good old days, when the four bandmates would pool their money to rent the National Guard Armory and local American Legion halls and rock the night away in front of their fellow teens.
Thrilled to learn that all three felt as fond about those days as he did, Clifford made arrangements for the four to regroup for a night last year to relive their youthful glory days. A few phone calls to former classmates started a buzz going.
"Paul sells commercial real estate in Indianapolis, Mike is employed at Bethlehem Steel, and Alex is a popular disc jockey in Dallas, Texas," Clifford said.
"Life has gotten in the way, but it's great to get back together with old friends," said Clifford, who is pumped up about the group's one-night-only performance. "Our lives have all changed, having kids and careers and all that. But doing a reunion show like this makes us all feel like we are back in our carefree high school days."
Clifford invites all old Valparaiso High School classmates to once again step away from their responsibilities for a few hours to join them in reliving the waning days of the 1980s.
"This show is going to be a sock hop for kids in their 30s," he laughed.
Music Notes . . .
* It's with very deep regret that I inform the area music community of the death of longtime local club guitarist John David, who passed away last Friday at age 42.
A fixture in area clubs during the 1980s and 1990s while performing with such bands as Innocent Eyes, Shuddup & Drive and Ransom, John David was a lifelong resident of Hobart. Though he had toured over the years with the USO, he always returned home to the Region.
My last contact with John, who had stepped away from the local stages a few years earlier for personal reasons, took place last January. I had not spoken to him in a few years, until he showed up with open arms to comfort me over the lost of our mutual musical friend, Paul Callaway II.
It was good to see John. It was great to learn that he had returned to writing songs and had even begun popping up at acoustic jam nights in the area. Though I was not a close friend of John David on a personal level, I had always admired his talents as a guitarist and songwriter. It saddens me that those talents have been lost to us.
My sympathy to John's family, especially his sister and brother-in-law, Laura and Jon Piornack, who continue to perform in area clubs as Ransom.
* Cronies Gin Mill in Kouts will host a multi-band concert Saturday from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. to benefit a 30-year-old local shooting victim, Ed Pancek. Among those confirmed to perform are The Tall Show, Midnight Moonlight, The Bedheads, Mas Kaos, Raizen Kayne and MisBehavin'. For more info, call (219) 766-3172.
* Citing medical reasons, frontman/vocalist Mark Barry has stepped down from performing with the local rock band, Milhouse. The band is carrying on under the new name X-Girlfriend, with Tina Dohl stepping up to the microphone. Though this is Dohl's first time singing in a rock band, she is hardly a show biz novice. The incredibly talented Dohl played the lead in recent Star Plaza Theatre productions of "Chicago" and "Cabaret." The new group is busy rehearsing and plans to debut in early December.
* McCool's in South Haven will host regional modern rock band Dem A'gin as they attempt to set a new performance milestone in the Guinness Book Of Records by playing for 28 straight hours. McCool's owner Sean Caster said "The club will not close. We'll be open around the clock for people to come in and cheer them on!"
* When he is not slapping out the rhythm on Rick Springfield and Def Leppard cover songs with retro-rock band History's End, bassist Scott Hicks of Merrillville is now moonlighting as part of an ultra-heavy original music group from Chicago called Organic. The new band also features former Lungbrush vocalist/frontman, Roach, and ex-Gravelbone guitarists Mike Sheffield and Kenny Gannon.
* Front Porch Music will present The Bedheads and The Planetary Blues Band in a special all ages concert Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Valparaiso Expo Center. For more information, call (219) 464-4700.
E-mail Tom Lounges at: beatboss@aol.com. This column solely represents the opinion of the writer and not necessarily that of The Times.
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